44 



local influences. There is not such a thing in nature as a species 

 as meant by botanists." This seemed to contain a prediction 

 that has been most amply fulfilled in the scores of beautiful 

 hybrids raised since then by Mr. Dominy, and especially by Mr. 

 Seden and others. The first hybrid I 



was indeed the commencement of 

 an important era in c rchidology, 

 and well did Mr. Dominy de- 

 serve the numerous substantial 

 testimonials that have been 

 awarded to him. In another re- 

 spect Messrs. Veitch were also 

 fortunate in procuring the services 

 of two enthusiastic plant col- 

 lectors, the Brothers Lobb Mr. 

 Wm. Lobb, who travelled in 

 America, and Mr. Thomas Lobb, 

 who wandered over India, Assam, 

 Borneo, Java, and the Philippines, 

 adding grand stores of useful 

 and handsome plants, including 

 large numbers of orchids, to the 

 Veitchian possessions. 



Progress still continued, and 

 the sixth decade was marked by 

 several important events. The 

 celebrated work on orchids, by 

 Mr. Charles Darwin, appeared in 

 1862, and may be fairly said to 

 have revolutionised opinion with 

 regard to these plants. It was 

 entitled, "The various contri- 

 vances by which orchids are 

 fertilised by insects," and, so ably 

 was the subject discussed, that it 

 attracted the attention of the 

 whole scientific world. Twenty 

 years later a second edition was 

 issued, with several important 

 additions, and the work is in- 

 valuable for all interested in 

 Orchids. 



Mr. Robert Warner, of Broom- 



orchidist, forming an extensive 



collection of fine specimens, many of which were subsequently 



